Random Famous Athletes Who Are Alcoholics (38 items)

(#1) Brett Favre
- 53
Brett Favre went to rehab for an addiction to alcohol and Vicodin in 1996.
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(#2) Charles Barkley
- 60
In 2008, Charles Barkley was charged with two DUI counts and sent to rehab. He has also been open about his addiction to gambling.
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(#3) Metta World Peace
- 43
Metta World Peace may not consider himself to be an alcoholic, but he has been known to drink Hennessy in the locker room at halftime.
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(#4) Allen Iverson
- 48
In 2010, several sources in the NBA stated that Allen Iverson had a drinking problem. Iverson has never spoken publicly about the issue.
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(#5) Babe Ruth
- Dec. at 53 (1895-1948)
Babe Ruth is well-known to be one of the most hard-drinking, cigar-smoking athletes of all time.
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(#6) Joe Namath
- 80
In 2003, Joe Namath appeared drunk during a TV interview. "I want to kiss you. I couldn't care less about the team strugg-a-ling," he said to the interviewer Suzy Kolber. He later entered a rehab program.
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(#7) John Daly
- 57
In 2008, John Daly was taken into police custody after being found drunk outside of a Hooters in North Carolina. The incident propelled him to stop drinking.
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(#8) Sugar Ray Leonard
- 67
Sugar Ray Leonard's ex-wife accused him of being an alcoholic and a cocaine addict.
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(#9) Alexander Ovechkin
- 38
NHL player Alexander Ovechkin has been photographed drunk in public on numerous occasions.
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(#10) Mickey Mantle
- Dec. at 63 (1931-1995)
Mickey Mantle treated his alcoholism at the Betty Ford Clinic in 1994, but his liver was already severely damaged, and he died the following year.
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(#11) Lawrence Taylor
- 64
Lawrence Taylor struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for much of his NFL career. He was suspended twice for failing drug tests.
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(#12) Miguel Cabrera
- 40
Miguel Cabrera went to rehab for alcohol abuse in 2010, but he was arrested on a DUI the following year. He is continuing to treat his addiction.
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(#13) Josh Hamilton
- 42
Josh Hamilton struggled with drugs and alcohol, but he has been clean since 2005. In his autobiography, he credits his faith with helping him kick the habit.
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(#14) Boris Becker
- 55
Boris Becker stated that he used drugs and alcohol throughout the height of his career. "For the sleeplessness there was Planum, for the pain a couple of other pills, against the loneliness I felt with women, whisky or both. I had to occasionally reduce my tournament appearances to recover in the meantime from the effects of the pills," he said.
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(#15) Patrick Kane
- 34
Patrick Kane's heavy drinking got him in trouble in 2009, when he was accused of punching a cab driver for not giving him the proper change. He was later indicted on misdemeanor assault, theft, and harassment charges.
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(#16) Dwight Gooden
- 58
Dwight Gooden discussed his addiction to drugs and alcohol in his autobiography Heat, which was released in 1999.
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(#17) Jayson Williams
- 55
In 2010, Jayson Williams was charged with a DUI after he crashed his car into a tree in New York. He was sentenced to a year in prison for the crime.
(#18) Darryl Strawberry
- 61
Darryl Strawberry struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol for many years. In 2014, he opened the The Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center to help athletes and individuals suffering from substance abuse.
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(#19) Oksana Baiul
- 45
In 1997, Oksana Baiul was arrested on a DUI after crashing her car into a tree in Connecticut. She entered rehab and has been sober since 1998.
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(#20) Ken Caminiti
- Dec. at 41 (1963-2004)
Ken Caminiti admitted to having a drinking problem in 1994, but he did not enter rehab until 2000. He died on October 10, 2004, after overdosing on a deadly combination of heroin and cocaine.
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(#21) Hack Wilson
- Dec. at 48 (1900-1948)
Hack Wilson's heavy drinking caused him to get in many fights throughout his MLB career.
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(#22) George Best
- Dec. at 59 (1946-2005)
George Best struggled with alcoholism for most of his life. He said, "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars – the rest I just squandered."
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(#23) Thurman Thomas
- 57
In 2003, Thurman Thomas spent time in a rehab center to treat his alcoholism. The following year, he was arrested for and charged with marijuana possession.
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(#24) Barret Robbins
- 50
Barret Robbins struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for most of his life. He has been in and out of rehab centers, and in 2010, he was found with crack cocaine in his vehicle.
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(#25) Jason Kidd
- 50
In 2012, Jason Kidd was charged with driving while intoxicated after his vehicle hit a telephone pole near his home.
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(#26) Vin Baker
- 51
In 2007, Vin Baker was arrested for drunk driving in Connecticut.
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(#27) Whitey Ford
- 94
Whitey Ford was known to be a big drinker throughout his MLB career.
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(#28) Billy Martin
- Dec. at 61 (1928-1989)
Billy Martin struggled with an addiction to alcohol throughout much of his adult life.
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(#29) Cris Carter
- 57
Cris Carter's heavy drinking and drug addiction caused coach Buddy Ryan to cut him from the team in 1989. Carter credits this event with helping him to get clean.
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(#30) Bernie Parent
- 78
Bernie Parent joined Alcoholics Anonymous after he retired from hockey because of an eye injury.
(#31) Doug Harvey
- Dec. at 65 (1924-1989)
Doug Harvey suffered from bipolar disorder, and he was an alcoholic.
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(#32) Dock Ellis
- Dec. at 63 (1945-2008)
After years of drug and alcohol abuse, Dock Ellis got clean in 1980.
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(#33) Grover Cleveland Alexander
- Dec. at 63 (1887-1950)
Grover Cleveland Alexander turned to alcohol after experiencing physical and mental traumas in World War I.
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(#34) Steve Howe
- Dec. at 48 (1958-2006)
Steve Howe was suspended seven times throughout his MLB career, due to his struggles with drugs and alcohol.
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(#35) Tai Babilonia
- 64
Tai Babilonia treated her depression with drugs and alcohol until a failed suicide attempt in 1988 prompted her to get the help that she needed.
(#36) Leonard Little
- 48
Leonard Little was convicted of manslaughter after he crashed into and killed a woman while driving under the influence of alcohol.
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(#37) James Hunt
- Dec. at 45 (1947-1993)
Off the track, James Hunt enjoyed indulging in alcohol and women.
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(#38) Jerry Bailey
- 66
Jerry Bailey wrote about his struggle with alcoholism in his autobiography Against The Odds.
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